Telescopic step or rung ladders



March 18, 1958 B, NAPOLITANO 2,827,216

TELESCOPIC STEP OR RUNG LDDERS` Filed May 25. 1955 2 Shee'lzs-Sheei'I 1 LEONARD a. NAPOLITAN ATTORNEY March 18, 1958 1 9. NAPoLla-ANO 2,327,216

ELESCOPIC STEP 0R RUNG LADDERS Filed may 25. 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 m 4 9 a U D .nll- IP l nln .4 I l ||.|1| J i. im W vw .a .m` 5. J.\ J f uw J 6 6 5 4 9 5. 4 6 5 1 5 5 9 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 m 5 4 4 4 4 f L r f 1e 5 67 6 6 6 n .hw .w 5 u M 5 5 5 n.- .4 4 L 1 4 4 4 4 m w 4 4 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent F TELESCOPIC STEP R RUNG LADDERS Leonard B. Napolitano, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 511,074

2 Claims. (Cl. 228-39) This invention relates to ladders, and, more particularly, to telescopic step or rung ladders.

An object of my invention is to provide a ladder which may be readily reduced in length to permit easy and economic storage in a limited space.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sturdy, relatively light weight, ladder which has telescopic stiles permitting easy collapsing of the ladder into a compact unit.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a lightweight, relatively economic, strong, easily collapsible ladder of the step or rung type.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a self-supporting ladder wherein the uprights or stiles are in sections which can be readily telescoped or extended from each other and locked by means of interlocking means in the interconnecting rung members.

Other objects and advantageous features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionV with the accompanying drawings, wherein: l

l Fig. l is a side View of a step ladder in extended or operable position and forming one embodiment of my invention;V

' Fig. 2 is 'a front view of Fig. l, showing the sections of the ladder;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the ladder shown in Fig. 2 but in collapsed or compacted position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional, enlarged view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional enlarged view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing the section locking means in engaging position.

Fig. 6 is a section showing the disengagement of the locking means before the collapsing action of the ladder;

Fig. 7 is a front view of an open or an extended rung ladder, forming another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the ladder shown in Fig. 7, but in collapsed or compacted condition;

Fig. l0 is a detail taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 8 showing the positive action of the locking means in the rung; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 10, but showing the locking means in the rung in disengaged position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like parts refer to like parts throughout, it will be noted that I show in Figs. 1 6, a step ladder, whereas in Figs. 8 to l1, I show a collapsible rung-type of ladder. Both of said ladders embody my invention.

The ladder 15 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is a step ladder and consists of two relatively movable and collapsible parts 16 and 17, respectively, and which are of relatively similar construction, but are shown in mirror image relationship. Said two sections are each connected at their upper end to a at top or shelf member 13 by means of pivoted members or hinges 19 and 20.

2,827,216 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 riice be considered as the front of the ladder while the section 16 may be considered as the rear of the ladder. Furthermore, part 17 willbe described and will apply also to part 16. Parts 16 and 17 are held in relatively spaced position by means of a link or chain stay or the like 21.

Part 17, as shown, has a pair of opposed vertical Stiles 22 and 23, each consisting of a plurality of telescopic sections 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, the number thereof depending upon the desired length of the ladder. VIt is to be noted that said sections, for purposes of illustration, are shown as rectangularly shaped, although I am not limited to such shape. Each section has at its ends connecting with the next succeeding section an upper slot or opening 29 and a lower slot or opening 30. Such slots or openings as shown may be of rectangular or other suitable shape and extend outwardly lof the stile to permit the passage and lodging therein of a cross bar 31 which extends through each of said rungs 32 as shown. Said bar 31 in each rung interconnects the sections of said stiles 22 and 23, preferably at the location where the sections when extended for their respective slots or openings are in engageable alignment. As noted, the rungs will usually correspond with the number of sections so as to facilitate collapsing of the ladder or telescoping of the respective sections in each stile.

With respect to rungs 32, it will be noted that there is provided with the cross bar 31 one or more coil spring members 33 which are fixed at one end to the underside of each rung 32 and at the other end to the cross bar 31, said cross bar being preferably cylindrical in shape to facilitate easy movement of the same into the slots or openings 29 and 30 of the different sections. Each of said bars 31 is provided with at least one bar member 34 which is xed to the bar 31 and extends through an opening 34a from the underside wall of each rung between the stiles. Each rung 32 is furthermore provided with lateraly disposed end slots or openings 35 and 36 at the opposite ends thereof, so that when the stiles 16 and 17 are to be brought together in vertical arrangement, preparatory to collapsing the ladder, the protruding bar 34 will come into contact with the rear face 37 of each opposed rungs 37a on stile 17 so as to force the iiat bar 34 inwardly against the action of springs 33 thereby releasing the cross bar 31 from locking engagement with the upper and lower rung sections, whereupon said sections Will automatically collapse into the lowermost section 28 so as to form a compact unit 38, as shown in Fig. 3. The sections in the stiles 16 will also collapse, because the bar 34 pressing against the rear face 37 of the rungs 37a will push the rungs to the left of stile 16, in Fig. l. Such compact unit can then be readily stored; for instance, in a closet or other small space.

In Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, I show a rung ladder 39 preferably of tubular construction which has a pair of stiles 40 and 41, each consisting of upwardly extending sections 42, 43, 44 and 45, and downwardly extending sections 46, 47, 48 and 49, protruding from the central sections 50 and 51, respectively, which central sections have interconnecting fixed rungs 52, 53 and 54. The number of upwardly and downwardly extending sections may be varied depending on the desired length of the ladder.

Said central portions 50 and 51, as shown, are of the greatest outside diameter and are intended to support the upwardly extending and downwardly extending telescopic sections above indicated. Each of said sections 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, is provided at their upper and lower ends with an inner opening or slot 55 as shown, which openings are adapted to come into alignment with the opening of the next successive upper or lower section as the case may be.

Interconnecting each of the sections isa series of rungs 56 fixed to each opposed section, and ,through which extend a pair of bars 57 and 58 normally kept and spread apart, as shown in Fig. Vl0by means ofa tensionfspring member 59, whereby the ends of said bars extend throughV the openings or slots 55 into the section. VIt will be noted Y that said rungs are in the present instance shown as cylindrical and entertain Vthe bars 57v and 58; Each of said bars 57 and 58 has a protruding pin 60 `extending outwardly of theY rungft56 through slots 61 in each rung.

In the event it is desired to collapse the ladder to a condition shown in Fig. 9, the operator of `t-he ladder Vhoused in each of the cross members or rungs. Alstnin accordance with my invention the interlocking .engagingV and disengaging means are spring operableon releasable. The interlocking Vmeans provided in each rung act as stops for the sections affording Sufficient rigidity and sturdiness to the ladder to accommodate thefperson of more than average weight. I furthermore show-the component parts of the ladder as eitherrrrectangular or: cylindrical'in shape; However, I amV not limited to suchshape but may useV any otherV shape inV the formationtofl the Y Y dierent parts of the ladder.Y YSaid ladderis'maderof'relatively light weight metal, such as aluminum, or aluminum alloys, which will aiord sufficient sturdiness ori strength YVto cope with the usual weights of usersl of the ladder.

InY accordance with my invention the sections Vin case of Vdanlage can berreadily replaced. Y Y i Byrmy invention it will be further noted` that I mayV reduce the normal size of therladder'to aboutone-'third Vits original lengthso as to facilitate easy'- and. economic storage when the ladder is not in use. f A ladder ot the type described andillustrated herein can be'easily col.

lapsed or extended tosuitrthe needs of the user.

While preferred embodiments of my invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that modifications as to form, arrangement of parts, and use of materials, may be Ymade without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as claimed herein.

I claim:

1. Arcollapsible 'step ladder, comprising a plurality ofY stiles, Veachy having a multiplicity of telescopicV sections, and a plurality "of rungs interconnecting the Stiles, each rung having'dispose'd underneath the step portion releasable locking means. extending acrossA the rung for each of the sections, said locking means having protruding means adapted when a pair of said stilestare brought together in closed position to contact the opposed rungs thereon and automatically release the locking means thereon to. permit telescoping of the. sections.. t

2. An extensible step. ladder comprisinga pair of collapsible laddereinhingead connection with each other, each ladder `having a pair of spaced telescopic'stile section, each section containingk a cross rung at Vthe, upper portion thereof, each stile section having a' lateral slot therein at the rung portion so thatwhen the sections'are extended and each successive end comes into contactl with each` other, the respective slots arein relative alignment, said rung members. having tensionedV movable locking bar means adapted to-slidelinto said openings` andhold the sections in extended position Vin the ladder-,and means in connection with the vbar` means adaptedwhenthe ladders are' brought togetheri to. release the rlocking means and permit the sect-ionsvtofbe collapsed'. Y

References; Cited the le of this; .patent Y UNITED sTArEs PATENTSV Y Crumpton Feb. 20,' 19,51l 

